Internal-combustion engine.



H. M. NEER.

INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.15. 1906.

905,91 1 1 Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

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HARRY M. NEER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

IN TERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 15, 1908. Serial No. 416,104l

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY M. NEER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-CombustionEngines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of internal combustion enginesand has particular relation to the improvement of valve operatingmechanism for engines of this class.

The objects of my invention are to provide simple and effective meansfor producing at the proper moments a positive operation of the intakeand exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine; to so construct myimproved operating mechanism as to admit of its being located above thevalves and inclosed within a lubricating oil reservoir and to produceother improvements the details of which will be more fully pointed outhereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a gasolene engine having my improvedvalve operating mechanism, showing for the sake of clearness inillustration a portion of the oil reservoir and a portion of the crankcase broken away, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the top of theoil reservoir removed, Fig. 3 is a view in elevation at right angles tothat shown in Fig. 1, and, Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section online 00a2 of Fig. 3.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 represents the crank case of an internal combustion engine, 2 the mainshaft which is journaled in said crank case and 3 and 4 engine cylinderssupported above the crank case in the usual manner. Upon the shaft 2,preferably within the crank case is carried a beveled gear wheel 5 whichgears with a bevel wheel 6 on the lower end of an upright shaft 7 whichrises from the crank case and the upper end of which extends through thelower side of one end of an oblong oil reservoir or box 8, the latterbeing suitably supported above the cylinders.

9 and 10 respectively represent the exhaust and intake valve rods ofeach cylinder, a portion of the exhaust valve 9 which is carried on thelower end of said exhaust valve rod, being shown in a closed position inthe valve opening 11 of the cylinder 3 in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Leadingupward and thence outward from this valve opening, is the usual exhaustoutlet pipe arm 12. The intake valve of the cylinder 3 is indicated indotted lines at 10 in Fig. 4 and to this intake valve leads the usualintake pipe 18, through which is conducted the charge of air and gaswhich is intended to be ignited in the combustion chamber or upperportion of the cylinder.

Upon the upper end of the shaft 7 and within the box 8, is carried abeveled gear wheel 14, the teeth of which mesh with those of the beveledgear wheel 15 on the end of a horizontal shaft 16 which extends withinand lengthwise of the box 8. This shaft 16 is mounted insuitablebearings 17 and 18 which rise from the lower side of the box 8 and saidshaft carries thereon a pinion wheel 19 for each cylinder, the pinionwheel for but one of these cylinders being shown fully herein.

Upon an upward extension of each of the bearing projections 18 and abovethe shaft 16 is carried a horizontal bevel gear wheel 20, the teeth ofthe latter engaging the teeth of the adjacent pinion 19. As shown, theupper side of each of the gear wheels 20 has formed thereon throughoutthree-fourths of its circumference and on its marginal portion a raisedrib or cam projection 21.

Supported above each of the gear wheels 20 and centrally connectedtherewith is a plate or disk 22, the marginal portion of the undersideof which is for one-fourth of its circumference formed with a downwardlyprojecting rib or cam 23, the latter being immediately above thatportion of the gear wheel which is not provided with the cam projection21. As shown in the drawing, the valve rods 9 and 10 rise within the box8 at one side of the gear wheel 20 and each of said valve rods extendspartly within a channel formed by guide lugs 24 which project from theside wall of the box 8 and in order to prevent a rotation of the valverods, each of said rods has formed on its outer side a rearwardlyprojecting lug 25 which is movably fitted in the channel formed by thelugs 24. Above the lugs 24, the upper end of each of the valve rods isprovided with a cap or enlarged head 26 between which and said lugs isinterposed a short cushion spring 27. Each of the valve rods hasprojecting therefrom a pin 28 (see Fig.

4-) on the outer end portion of which is mounted a roller 29, theserollers being adapted as indicated to bear between the underside of thedisk 22 and the upper side of the cam projection 21 or between theunderside of the cam projection 23 of the disk 22 and the upper side ofthe gear wheel 20.

From the reservoir or lubricating oil box 8 lead oil conducting pipes30, the lower ends of which respectively enter the cylinders 3 and 1.These pipes which are intended to convey oil from the box or reservoir 8to the cylinders, may be used in conjunction with a suitable oil pumpmounted in said box, but not herein shown. Upon one end of the crankshaft which is reduced as shown at 2 is carried a fan, the latter beingcontained within a casing 31 and from said casing leads an airconducting pipe 32 which extends upward and thence over the cylindersand which is connected with and designed to discharge air withincylinder jackets 33 which incase the upper portions of the cylinders.

Considerable difliculty has been experienced in the running of highspeed engines of the class herein shown, this difiiculty arising fromthe fact that the intake and exhaust valves do not close or open withsuflicient promptness, particularly when the engine is running at a highspeed, thus resulting in an undesirable loss of power.

From the construction described, it will be understood that when eitherof the valve rollers 29 come into contact with and ride upon the gearwheel flange projection 21, the valve controlled by said rod will bepositively forced upward to the closed position against its seat in theupper portion of the cylinder and that when said rollers or either of.them are bearing between the downwardly projecting flange 23 of the disk22 and the upper side of the gear wheel 20, a positive opening of thevalves upon said rods is assured.

It will also be understood that in the construction and arrangement ofthe mechanism herein described, the cam projections 23 and 21 are ofsuch length and arrangement and the rollers of the valve rods are sospaced and arranged as to insure the opening and closing of the intakeand exhaust valves at the proper moments, thus providing against afailure of these valves to operate instantly when required andpreventing a loss of power through either late or premature action ofthe valves.

hat I claim, is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a shaft, andmeans for rotating the same, a pinion carried on said shaft, a rotatablymounted gear wheel meshing with said pinion, and a cam segment 011 saidgear wheel, of parallel reciprocating valve rods, projections on saidvalve rods, said projections adapted to bear upon the upper sides ofsaid gear wheel and cam projection.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a crank shaft,a gear wheel thereon and piston containing engine cylinders, of a valveoperating shaft mounted above the cylinders, a pinion wheel on saidvalve operating shaft, a gear wheel mounted above the shaft and gearingwith said pinion, said gear wheel having a raised cam segment on itsupper surface, a plate carried by and above said gear wheel, said platehaving a cam projection on its underside, exhaust -and inlet valve rodshaving projections adapted to bear between said gear wheel and plate,and connections between the valve operating shaft and crank shaft forimparting rotary motion to the first named shaft.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a crank shaftand cylinders, and inlet and exhaust valves in said cylinders, of an oilcontaining case mounted above said cylinders, oil conducting pipesconnecting said case with the cylinders, a valve operating shaftrotatably mounted in said oil case, a pinion carried on said valvecontrolling shaft, a gear wheel mounted above said shaft and meshingwith said pinion, said gear wheel having a cam projection on its upperface, valve rods extending upward from said intake and exhaust valvesand having projections adapted to bear upon the upper sides of said gearwheel and its cam projection, and a connection between the cam shaft andsaid valve operating shaft whereby rotary motion is imparted to thelatter.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY M. NEER.

WVitnesses R. L. PHELPS, L. CARL SroUeH'roN.

